UMBC, IBM team up to create Cell-based supercomputer

We've certainly seen PlayStation 3s used in academia before, but a "significant gift" by IBM to the University of Maryland-Baltimore County is enabling the institution to further develop its Multicore Computational Center. The facility now utilizes 32 Cell processors, and researchers at the lab are getting set to "develop applications" to harness all that power. Reportedly, the supercomputer will dabble in "visualization and computer modeling applications for aerospace / defense, financial services, healthcare / life sciences industries and weather." Hit the link below for a video report.

[Thanks, Ryan O.]
Read - IBM, UMBC partnership
Read - Video report

[Scott G. @ Sep 25th 2007 3:04PM]

I'll take one

[Ray-- @ Sep 25th 2007 3:17PM]

Does anyone have a site with benchmarks for, say, the fastest quad-core intel vs. a cell processor? Is it really a big deal to use these stupid things or is IBM just trying to promote (read: giveaway) it's chips since Sony doesn't need as many as they thought they would since PS3 isnt doing very well???

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 25th 2007 3:35PM]

my understanding is they are better for the sort of calculations you would use in research calculations vs the calculations you would need for say doom or ms word.
I could be wrong though

[Andy @ Sep 25th 2007 3:42PM]

You cant really benchmark it the same way because you have to write code specifically taking advantage of its capabilities.

You cant just throw XP or Vista on there and say, hey lets run some benchmarks. It may run, but like any multicore processor and computer, it only works at peak capacity if the software is optimized for the hardware.

[Andir3.0 @ Sep 25th 2007 6:57PM]

You couldn't through XP on there anyway. The kernel only supports x86 processors.

And the Cell was made explicitly to to streaming floating point calculations (which games can get a great benefit from if used right, since pretty much all 3D done today is floating point.)

[31 @ Sep 25th 2007 4:23PM]

The guy in the video states that the multi core computer can quicken the read times of MRIs??? MRI images are interpreted by a Radiologist, and not by a computer. The computer is useful in post processing, but post-processing in MRI is currently very fast. By this thought process, I bet this new multi-core could make you run faster too.

[chris.kozanecki @ Sep 25th 2007 4:35PM]

The MRI data is read by a computer and then turned into the image that the Radiologist looks at. Dee Dee Dee...

[31 @ Sep 25th 2007 5:03PM]

"The MRI data is read by a computer and then turned into the image that the Radiologist looks at. Dee Dee Dee..."

Current MRI machines do not take days to "read" the MRIs.
The MRI computer reconstructs the data from the scan immediately after each sequence ends. There are 5 to 10+ sequences per study depending on the anatomy scanned. The computer does no "reading" of the images. Once all data is acquired, the MRI tech then sends the study to a DICOM server that the Radiologist then has access to. Current MRI machines and post-processing workstations are very quick, almost instant.

[Jatin Singh @ Sep 25th 2007 5:08PM]

i actually go to UMBC, i was trying to get in on the news action but i guess they cut me off

[Andir3.0 @ Sep 25th 2007 6:55PM]

Must... run... ray-traced Doom!

[Joey Schenning @ Sep 25th 2007 6:57PM]

Hey! I go there!!

Too bad I'm in music...

[gerry achola @ Sep 25th 2007 9:46PM]

I'm going there next semester!

[julian @ Sep 25th 2007 10:02PM]

well teh best intel or amb cpu put out at maxium 30gfps singel prosision the cell put out like 270? on flotting poiont operations the cell donimats all but but the nivida 8800 ultras

[Tim Finin @ Sep 25th 2007 10:19PM]

The stories manged the facts somewhat. UMBC is not building a supercomputer out of PS3s. Rather IBM is giving UMBC a number of of their new Cell Broadband Engine processor blades that will be added to our existing IBM based Beowulf system. The blades include QS20s [1] and soon to be released QS21s [2]. These have processors that are based on the the processor in the PS3 but with much higher performance characteristics. For example, the Qs21 has two 3.2 GHz Cell/B.E. processors, 2 GB XDR memory, integrated dual GB Ethernet, and an InfiniBand adapter. One the goals in the IBM/UMBC partnership is to collaborate on exploring how cell processors can be used for business, science and engineering applications [3].

[1] http://www-03.ibm.com/technology/splash/qs20/
[2] http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/bladecenter/qs21/
[3] http://www.umbc.edu/research/blog/2007/08/ibm_gift_to_bring_orchestra_of_1.html

[Ryan Bricklemyer @ Sep 26th 2007 10:44AM]

Yeah UMBC... So nice to see your alma matter make it to engadget

[Shahryar @ Sep 27th 2007 12:55PM]

You said it Ryan (Class of 2002, Info Sys Major/Comp Sci Minor)

[Ryan Bricklemyer @ Sep 27th 2007 1:39PM]

Class of 2004 and 2006 (BS & MS in IS)